Don't give up...  Keep plugging away.  I went the day the Target Clone was due to release and scored 2 that day so there's luck if you go immediately...  Just gotta be on the ball I guess.

I've heard tell that the Gunship was at KB Toys up here around Pittsburgh as well, and I don't believe it was overpriced compared to elsewhere.  So that's good news for people still hunting that thing down.

Problem solved, miscommunication.

I'm ETO fan so I actually dig the Americans Vs. Nazi's routine, however some British and Russians would certainly spice things up, and to say that we're short on Germans is nothing short of an understatement.  I saw the BotB figs at TRU during their first blitz and that was it.  Never seen them at WM and obviously never saw a German figure in a store unless it was online somewhere.

The Japanese ARE a step in the right direction, and that's what makes me hopeful for Brits and Russians.  If they covered the main groups, I'd be happy.  Some resistance guys (civilians, basically, with guns) would be cool too and I think they'd perhaps have some level of appeal, but it's kinda like Star Wars...

I think they should be redoing the 1st series Germans and U.S., and just continuously mix them in so they're available (especially riflemen), and then sneak these random guys in like SAS, red devils, Russian Infantry, Blackwatch...  Repaint some of the 1st series guys too for Afrika Korps troops and do some N. Africa British (new legs/shorts) and Americans...  The possibilities to do this, and do it cheaply (ala the Marrauders set) is there if they'd take the time to think about it.

I think Russians and British have some appeal, and I think resistance fighters would have some appeal as well, just slightly less broad.  As long as you have the basics out there though with Americans and Germans (and variations of them) then you've got a good base to sneak those odder things in now and then.

Yeah, their headsculpts are cool, lotsa extra gear and perhaps good parts for cusotmizing, however I'm not pleased with them as actual military figures. 

Theyr'e cool for that brief period where a Paratrooper's dropping from the sky, but once the 82nd and 101st hit the ground they're dropping those chutes like mofo's, and 90% of that **** they were forced to lug along (if it wasn't ripped off in the drop).

To me the 82nd and 101st figures coming out (no drop gear) are the ultimate though.  If I could I'd buy all the chuted figures and just swap heads onto these other bodies just to make the combat ready figures.

At least BBI stuff shows up though.  That's more than I can say for 21st figures, as you know Ryan.  I can't find jack besides Marines around here.  Either the store is packed with Series 1 and 2 Marines or they're just not stocking XD figures at all.  I'm bummed because after the Japanese figs you sent, I know I want an army of these guys.   They're fantastic!

And god knows I need more BotB Germans...  I despise Wal-Mart like you wouldn't believe.  Their distribution is just F'd from start to finish.

Thanks Matt...  Right now, none for Obi-Wan or Ani...  Mostly working on newer stuff, not older, but older's never ruled out, I just have a schedule I'm on right now and trying to keep with.

I've got other "Duel" reviews coming up though, just not of main characters.

The Clones were fun to review because it was basically Hasbro saying "Here's one for you and one for you", and that's a first for them I think.  They really actually did something right for once with that...  If they'd done something like this (Collection 1 and 2 Ani's or Obi's right at the start) I think it would've been really great actually.  Pilot Obi-Wan released with, say, Mustafar Duel Obi-Wan... 

My only clone complaint currently is that I can't find variations for the life of me.  Pilot and Commander aside (though I am seeing the Commander here and there, just not a lot), the Red Shocktrooper is nothing short of a frustration to pick up and if that's where the #6's tooling is being devoted, you'd think you'd see this figure a lot more.  I dunno.

Thank god someone listens to me.  Now I need to get to Hasbro...  Hmmm.

Edit: Don't mind that severely bruised knee in practice stuff.  I shot him with a ninja dart on the way to practice, that's why Thibault's out.

I missed the pens tonight but I heard Boston came back on us and the Pens lost one that was simply theirs to lose. 

And that's our 2nd OT loss too, which blows.  Our goaltending is just attrocious and I'm pissed we aren't putting Fleury back in over Thibault at this point.  It was a joke that he got starter over a guy that basically carried the Pens in their last season with his goaltending, young or not.  I'd be starting him next game after an 0-3 start by Thibault, be damned how old he is or what he thinks he should be doing.  He should realize he wasn't our first choice anyway and be playing harder than he is.

Nice to see (highlights) Crosby get his first goal though.  The city's already buzzing outside the hockey fans about this kid, and the asinine local sports guys are all now talking about him.  What a bunch of tools those guys are.